Richard Lee Dorsey

Richard Lee Dorsey went to be with his Lord and Savior on May 7, 2019. He was born on January 23, 1949, in Longview, Texas to Weldon Lee “Buck” and Eula Mae Freeman Dorsey. Richard attended Tatum Schools where he graduated in 1967. He went on to obtain an associates degree from Kilgore College in 1969 prior to being drafted into the United States Army where he served for two years. He married the love of his life, Sharman Lynn Bennett on January 30, 1971.
Richard began his professional career at Texas Instruments prior to joining the Army and returned to work there at the conclusion of his military service. He returned to East Texas in 1976 to work for Lone Star Steel. Richard always wanted to own his own business; and in 1984, shortly after Sharman opened Sharman’s Sewing Center, Richard left Leo Schindler Air and Hydraulics of Dallas to join her to build their family business where they worked side by side for 35 years enjoying the opportunity to get to know so many wonderful customers and employees. No business is ever just the result of two people’s hard work; it is the combination of God, Richard and Sharman, long-time employees such as Mary Deaver and Angie Points Wiley, both now retired, Petrina Cude who has been a driving force at Sharman’s for 26 years and their fabric guru of 15 years, Snooks Berkley, the present staff: Mike Bailey, Zach Dooley, Zach Simmons, Alice Beth Venci, Amy Anderson, Noreen Powers, Karen Roe, Diana Gonzalez, Mary Carol Etheridge, Cindy Newland (Tyler), Sandy Thompson (Tyler), Carolyn Franklin (Tyler), and Dawn McCarty (Tyler), as well as the many past employees that have come and gone over the years.
Kind, funny, loving, and generous are just a few words that describe Richard. He was a man who loved to tease and pick at everyone, always wearing a smile!
An avid sports fan, Richard enjoyed baseball (Texas Rangers), football (Dallas Cowboys), and basketball (Dallas Mavericks). He also enjoyed traveling with Sharman. Living at Lake Cherokee is not complete without cook outs, fishing, and lake fun; Richard especially enjoyed these times with his great nephews, Buck (8 years old) and Bain (5 years old)) as well as family and friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents and in laws, Cliff and Delma Bennett.
Richard is survived by his wife of 48 years, Sharman Lynn Bennett Dorsey; sister, Charlotte Dorsey McAfee; brother in law, Joel Bennett; brother in law, Mark Bennett and wife, Tresia; nieces, Kathy McAfee Eubanks and her husband, Cary; Kristi Carlson Wharton and her husband, Brian; Shala Carlson; and Bethany Bennett Dearborn and her husband, Brian; nephew, Ryan Bennett and his wife, Holli; great nieces and nephews: Abbi Wharton; Andrew, Logan, and Colton Dearborn; Ryan, Lawson, and Anna Lee Bennett; Buck, Bain, and Finley Eubanks; uncles: Billy Freeman and his wife, Shirley; James Freeman; Kenneth Freeman and his wife, Mary; and Judson Freeman and his wife, Tonya; aunts: Emma Waits, Dorothy Seelbach, Glenda Floyd as well as numerous cousins.
In lieu of customary remembrances, the family requests with gratitude that memorials be made in Richard's name to Hiway 80 Rescue Mission or Buckner Family Pathways (specifying Longview).